Rifle’s 60th anniversary opens the era of the brand’s relaunch. A new chapter whose first pages were written in June 2017 when Giulio Fratini, third generation of the founding family has announced the agreement with Kora Investments Sa, Swiss investment holding company founded in 2014 by the lawyer Alessandra Pallara, leading to the establishment of the new society Rifle & Co S.r.l.

An operation that signs the opening for the first time to foreign capitals and welcome a new team of managers, with the purpose to bring the brand Rifle back to play a major role in the international jeanswear world. Franco Marianelli will be the one leading this new course, with a curriculum characterized by top-level positions driving internationally renowned denimwear brands and whose now Rifle’s new CEO.

The kick of this new plan coincides with a fundamental recurrences for Rifle, the 60th anniversary of its foundation. A goal that brand intends to celebrate at its best, starting from a renovation of the product, with a constant look at its heritage and its excellence in manufacturing. The new collection will have as starting point the brand archive, source of inspiration for a product with a strong fashion content and at the same time open to new trends coming from the catwalks, with the aim of conquering a new female clientele thanks also to a strategic pricing policy.

The brand is also planning to expand its market internationally, with a focus on the countries of the Eastern Europe and in Asia. The digital channel will have big importance in the future growth of Rifle with important investments in the web communication, on the main social networks to catch the attention of the younger consumers and a focus on the e-commerce with partners with long experience in the fashion world.

The Roberto Cavalli Group has chosen Pitti Uomo for the worldwide launch of its new men’s fashion project with a special event in the house’s distinctive style.

One of the most important Italian luxury brands in the world, Roberto Cavalli will be back on its “hometown” catwalks with the first men’s collection by Paul Surridge, the new creative director for all of the company’s lines.

“The long love story between Pitti Immagine and Roberto Cavalli began nearly twenty years ago”, say Raffaello Napoleone, CEO of Pitti Immagine. “The runway show at the forthcoming edition of Pitti Uomo, featuring the first menswear collection by Paul Surridge further sanctions this bond, with us of Pitti and with the city. It marks the return of one of the champions of Italian style, one of the names that made Florence the world capital of fashion, and – at the same time it is the moment for highlighting a new phase for the brand led by the design talents of the new creative director. We are truly pleased to present this Special Guest, and we are working with the Roberto Cavalli Group with great synergy “.

“Style and the excellence of Made in Italy are the distinctive elements that create and distunguish the denim concept of OneDress OneLove, a new female brand that is debuting on the market, strong of a joint-venture with higly professional people of great experience in the fashion field that have worked together synergically to launch this new brand. The use of only the best denim canvas, the expert tailoring made in italy and the extensive research for the washing process convey a unique appeal to this product, making OneDress OneLove to immediately take place as the new denim standard in the best italian boutiques.”

Nobis, Canadian brand of outerwear of the highest quality, presents for the S/S18 season a new model called CLAYTON. A raincoat that winks at a business look in its camel version with a vichy interior and becomes a perfect streetwear piece proposed in the new version in graphic camouflage.

The main details of this pass-par-tout model are the 5 front buttons, different depending on the color variant, the button-down collar and the hidden pockets. Ideal for mid-season in the months of unpredictable weather, in fact, thanks to the special membrane of which it is covered, the fabric does not allow water to penetrate while being completely breathable.

Pepe Jeans London has launched a new, responsible innovation initiative to help accelerate the denim industry shift to more sustainable production methods. ‘Tru-Blu’, the new program will see Pepe Jeans London launch a series of eco-minded protocols over the next few months which will be adopted by the company to set the new standard in denim design and eco-technology. The first three steps to be revealed by Pepe Jeans London are Ice Shock, Tru-Blue, and Wiser Wash.

The first, Ice Shock, is a new washing technique that uses dry ice pellets to give denim a natural washed look. The second, Tru-Blu, is a new production process which was used to make a pioneering denim collection using zero chemical washes, reducing water consumption as well as reaching new depths of indigo contracts on denim jeans. The third, Wiser Wash, a process which eliminates the use of pumice stones and toxic chemicals used in traditional washing, while still be able to achieve the same bright contrasts and abrasions.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has announced the 2018 CFDA Award nominees via their Instagram page. CFDA designers, models and influencers all shot videos announcing the nominees that were released in secession on CFDA’s Instagram account. Several announcements were shot at the Brooklyn Museum, which will be the official venue for this year’s awards on June 4th.

Last year, Raf Simons made history when he became the second designer ever to win both the menswear and womenswear designer of the year awards in the same year for his work at Calvin Klein.

To view the full list of nominees, follow link.

Yesterday saw the launch of MarthaLouisa.com, an e-commerce site which i dedicated to selling shoes from the biggest fashion houses as well as young up-and-coming talent. The site is run by Susanne and Christoph Botschen, founders of the luxury e-commerce site MyTheresa.com.

Guillaume Henry, Creative Director at Nina Ricci has confirmed his departure. In a joint statement, first seen by WWD, the French fashion house confirmed Henry is set to exit after a three and a half year tenure.

“After three years of mutually gratifying creative collaboration, Nina Ricci and Guillaume Henry have together decided that the designer will depart the house after the presentation of the fall-winter 2018-19 collection.” Depending on the arrival of a new creative director, the brand’s next collection are set to be designed by Nina Ricci’s in-house studio, added the statement.

Ruco Line announces the entry of a major new resource as Davide Motta joins the company in the position of Creative Director in March 2018.

With a diploma in Industrial Design and two masters – Fashion Design and Footwear Design – Davide Motta comes from Givenchy, where he served as Men’s Senior Designer, and will work in Creative Direction of the Ruco Line and Agile by Ruco Line brands. With solid career experience, spent between Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana and Kurt Geiger (South Africa), Davide Motta comes to the company in Mugnano with a significant background in the world of luxury fashion. A perfect match with Ruco Line, which after 30 years of history in 2017, will embark on a new path that will see, first of all, a deep style renewal, involving the women’s and men’s collections of both company brands.

Opening Wednesday, April 25th UBM Fashion will presents its third edition of MAGIC Japan, the premier trade event that connects women’s, men’s and children’s contemporary apparel, footwear, and accessory brands, as well as sourcing suppliers, to the leading retail buyers in Japan, Asia, and around the globe. This three day event will take place April 25th through April 27th, 2018 at the Tokyo Big Sight Convention Centre in Japan. MAGIC Japan, which was launched last Spring, will showcase a diverse selection of brands from all over the world, as well as designers who can only be seen in Japan. At least eight brands who have won the Tokyo New Designer Fashion Grand Prix will showcase their latest collections, including 2017 winners Phablic X Kazui and YON. In addition, the Tokyo Fashion Award winner of 2017 “Children of the Discordance” will also be showcasing their 2018 Fall/Winter collection.

A new “DENIM Zone” is launching at MAGIC Japan this April that will showcase what Japan is widely known for – denim. A significant increase of North American and European brands is another attraction for buyers visiting the show from across Asia. Over thirty brands from US and fifteen brands from France and the UK will be exhibiting in the upcoming April edition of MAGIC Japan – most for the first time.

“In its third edition, MAGIC Japan will showcase not just the best fashion brands Tokyo has to offer, but an amazing selection of UK and US brands as well. Tokyo’s fashion community is both high energy and passionate, and we are honored to play a small part in it.” Christopher Griffin, President, International Business Development, UBM Fashion Group

Artist, Can Demirezen has designed three vintage denims by ALBERTO. Rooted in Mönchengladbach. So, there’s no better space to present the unique items than the Concept Store by ALBERTO.

“OPEN – CLOSE”. Since when do ALBERTO jeans give instructions on how to operate the zipper? And in unmistakable, hand-embroidered letters to boot? The answer: Since Can Demirezen laid hands on three models. The artist reworked the vintage denims into canvasses. Given a completely free hand during the redesign, he was allowed to design according to his own taste.

“I really let off steam,” says Can Demirezen. The right thighs are adorned with oversized information such as article number, size and style. The back pockets were removed and reassembled slightly offset. Some of the statements that were applied to the trousers with high-quality, durable textile dye and screen printing were covered.

Impulsive ideas and radical approaches, inspired by hip hop designs and street art. At the same time, Can Demirezen follows his own beat. “My art is personal and impulsive,” explains Demirezen, who is a real all-rounder. He is pursuing his bourgeois career as a student of business informatics, working by day in the office of an accountant. At night he worked as a disc jockey and produced techno tracks. He is currently giving this hobby a rest in favor of his true passion: art. Especially hand-painted designs have drawn him.

The result can be viewed in ALBERTO’s concept store in Mönchengladbach. The perfect place for surprising stagings and innovative ideas. Last but not least, the exciting experimentation space doesn’t just bring important insights into the collections, features and styles that will benefit POS retail partners. A win-win situation for everyone – not least for creative minds like Can Demirezen. Because he plans to continue his cooperation with ALBERTO.

Tatras has opened its flagship store in the fashion district at No. 3 Via della Spiga. The space, which houses the collections for men, women and children and the Lucio Vanotti x Tatras capsule collection was designed by MRZarchitetti.

The concept for the only European boutique of the Italian-Japanese brand collects iconic Italian furnishings from the 1950’s. The sinuous shapes of chairs and poufs upholstered in dark brown leather, are combined with the rigour of polished steel hanging racks mounted on walls of Calacatta marble.

The Side table Ragno by Carlo de Carli, the wall displays inspired by the iconic Infinito bookshelves designed by Franco Albini in 1956 and the light wall in the style of great buildings of Italian rationalism, are just some of the elements found in the Boutique.

Tatras, the brand that combines Italian production experience with totally Japanese design, research and development seeks to create European customer loyalty with a view to the expansion of the brand in our continent. The flagship store in Via della Spiga is the third flagship for the brand, joining stores in Osaka and Tokyo.

Spring 2018 TOMMYNOW, the brand’s fourth in-season runway show, took place during Milan Fashion Week on February 25, 2018 Milano Congressi. Following the success of the first three TOMMYNOW shows, the Spring 2018 event built on Tommy Hilfiger’s signature “See Now, Buy Now” format, and all runway looks were available across an ecosystem of immediately shoppable channels in more than 70 countries.

Ciao, Milano. The TOMMYNOW fashion experience is roaring into town with the greatest hits of our Spring 2018 collection. It’s cool, confident and every look is instantly shoppable.

Tribute was paid to Tommy’s longtime love of racing, fusing American heritage with modern athleticism for him and her. There are unique plays on proportion and shape; unexpected twists on our icons; and graphic interpretations of speed stripes, checkerboard and archival logos.

The pioneering spirit is ignited by the brand’s partnership with Formula One World Champions Mercedes- AMG Petronas Motorsport, pushing the boundaries of immersive experiences while remaining accessible to all with the TOMMYNOW SNAP app.

TOMMYNOW “DRIVE” marked the global launch of the Spring 2018 TommyXGigi capsule collection.

This Monday, February 26th, UBM Fashion presents a new edition of Coterie in New York’s Javits Center.

The three day event will run alongside UBM Fashion’s Women’s and Children’s February Show, Stitch@Coterie, Sole Commerce, Fame, Moda and Children’s Club.

Coterie continues its expansion outside the traditional ready-to-wear market with its second edition of Beauty@Coterie showing leading beauty and apothecary brands including Immunocologie, Le Bon Parfumeur and Prismologie. Coterie’s EDIT debuts its collaboration with Plan de Ville, an online destination for luxury fashion and emerging designers for its The Edit Lookbook.

WeAr’s team is live at Coterie to give you a sneak peak into the event below.

As featured in the upcoming WeAr March edition: Frankie is doing great with its leather jackets, colours are strong. Its Bestseller: a trenchcoat in leather and of course its denim range.

Not only for dogs…360° Cashmere shows its line of the finest yarn.

Innovative denim always attracts – visit the Mother booth for inspiration.

Footwear@Coterie features still a lot of fur.

Alice & Olivia with its concept: Knowledge is Power. Innovative booth design to be seen at this season’s coterie.

The new Beauty@Coterie section with fresh design.

Long lines early morning before Coterie’s entrance in the Javits Center, New York, NY.

Fitness is still a big topic and the Coterie Active area shows the latest and greatest.

Denim and super soft corduroy at Edwin

The Winner of Green Carpet Fashion Award 2017, eco-designer Tiziano Guardini has selected the new concept by Santoni & Fulgar as the key accessory for his sustainable collection.Presented for the first time at the Fashion Hub – Spazio Cavallerizze, the concept shoe created exclusively to complete the outfits of the new collection by Tiziano Guardini, a designer who has made sustainability the distinctive feature of his ultra-original creations. Made by Santoni, the leading producer of seamless machines, the shoe displays futuristic lines and a seamless upper made entirely of bio-based Evo yarn by FULGAR.

This innovative model is based on the most cutting edge textile science, a combination of X MACHINE technology developed by Santoni enabling the production of a one-piece upper with seamless and “no waste” technology and EVO yarn by Fulgar derived from the castor oil plant, with thermal properties and natural bacteriostatic agents, super stretch performance and exceptional breathability.

This concept is set to revolutionise the footwear industry, also with applications in combination with a rubber sole to create 100% bio footwear.

The first Shanghai Tang collection designed by Massimiliano Giornetti, Fall/Winter 2018-19, was presented at Milano Moda Donna, on Wednesday 21 February. Following the success of the first capsule created for this Hong Kong brand as Project Supervisor, this new position firmly confirms the role of Massimiliano Giornetti as the style guide for the various branches of the brand, today owned jointly by the Hong Kong Private Equity fund Cassia Investments and the Italian businessman Alessandro Bastagli, who is also its Executive Chairman.

“A dance of threads. A dreamlike journey from Italy to China: a silken thread strung between the West and the East, a veritable bridge extending from Europe to the faraway lands of the Dragon Throne that follows the historical traces of two ancient cultures. A blend of textiles and threads of overlapping motifs that intertwine two worlds and two contrasting yet complementary visions as if by magic.

A palette that gradates from light pastel shades and then intensifies, becoming vivid and allegorical. Light pink turns into fuchsia, peach becomes tangerine, and light blue deepens to a turquoise enamel. Straw colours slip lavishly into imperial yellow on black. Venice and the resplendent Cathay appear in unison in brocades that erupt in vibrant abstraction.

Fabrics on fabrics, geometric inlay work, empty spaces on top of filled space. The traditional mandarin garment is the inspiration for the bulbous black dress coat, with a barely visible rounded collar and spotted inserts on the pockets. The traditional exuberant and ironic playfulness of the Maison is evident in the contrasting printed linings. As well as this, animal print coats stand in opposition to the vivid, amethyst interior. The full sleeve jacket with a large stand collar, combined with thread embroidered, brocade-effect trousers are now the new luxury outfit.

The prints on scarves recount this dreamlike journey, and are framed like artwork, featuring images of war horses, traditional costume, fierce dragons, snuff bottles and a nebulous scattering of spots on a base of lacquer hues and pop and fluorescent colours, vibrant jade green celadon, and yellow and violet surface textures.”

Featuring the city’s picturesque skyline, J Winter Fashion Show 2018 premiered 6 haute couture and pret-a-couture collections from Europe, Asia, South America, and America on the sky-high sundeck of Costa neoRomantica cruise ship.

The high-profile J Winter Fashion Show 2018 welcomed guests on board of the luxurious Costa neoRomantica cruise ship with a red-carpet entrance and a VIP after-party with Italian delicacy and live music. Hong Kong’s finest Make Up For Ever, Daz Salon, Buccellati, Nirav Modi, Cristina Sabatini, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Pure Group, Ovolo Group, HK Branding, Camlux Hotel, Expo King, GOGOVAN, Roytal Tailor, and EAST Hong Kong were among the show supporters.

Christopher Bailey unveiled his final collection for Burberry at London Fashion Week this past Saturday.

With inspiration taken from the globally-known gay pride flag, a new rainbow check will be featured as a statement in this collection. “There has never been a more important time to say that in our diversity lies our strength, and our creativity,” said Bailey.

Bailey will formally step down from his two roles on March 31st but will work with Burberry on the transition until the end of this year.

Today the shows in Las Vegas started at the Mandalay Bay Convention Centre.

Project and Project Women will unveil their F/W 18 collections until February 14th.

Both shows refresh their format by reimagining the show floor and debuting a collaboration with Canada’s leading fashion city Montreal including live presentations, celebrity guests, and of course a large assortment of accessories, fashion and lifestyle articles.

Neighboing shows include The Tents, Pool Tradeshow, The Collective, Curve and Stitch@Project.

The Edit presents itself with darker colours and a cleaner look

Upgraded hall layout at the Collective

Good start to Project Las Vegas: Buyers were spotted at early hours already

Savile Row’s biggest tailor, Cad & The Dandy, have bought Götrich, Scandinavia’s oldest tailoring house. Established in 1730, this family tailoring business has dressed every Swedish King since its inception. This is a venture that will secure both the future success of Götrich, and promote brand Britain’s manufacturing/menswear overseas.

Expanding into the Swedish capital, Cad & The Dandy is flying in the face of Brexit by expanding into Europe, spreading the reputation and reach of Savile Row to Scandinavia and beyond. Established in 2008, Cad & The Dandy have gone from recession start-up to the largest tailor in the UK. Stateside expansion follows in spring, with two New York store openings.

The ’T-SHIRT: CULT – CULTURE – SUBVERSION’ exhibition opened its doors on the 9th of February at the Fashion and Textile Museum, highlights the multi-faceted role of this humble garment. From men’s underclothes to symbol of rock and roll rebellion, through punk and politics to luxury fashion item, T-shirts broadcast who we are and who we want to be.

The exhibition will feature a private collection of Vivienne Westwood t-shirts from the early days of Let it Rock, Sex, and Seditionaries, through to the designers most recent collections, Active Resistance to Propaganda and Climate Revolution. This group of rare objects will form a central installation of the exhibition, accompanied by an introduction to the historical biography of the T-shirt and an insight into its technological advances, mapped through sections focusing on contemporary design.

Last week the 44th event of Munich Fabric Start happened in Munich from the 30th of January to the 1st of February 2018.

More than 1800 collections by international companies were presented across fabrics and accessories.

Two topics were highlighted: The rise in technologies offered in terms of materials or special dying techniques as well as development in sustainability. A broad spectrum of smart solutions around natural processes were presented. From recycling to natural dying processes, companies from Lenzing to Dynamo showed great interest in deepening this topic and reported good demand for such solutions from customers.

Especially interesting for visitors was the KEYHOUSE, which is part of the show. It was curated as an innovation and technology center. Its focus was on intelligent process solutions, sustainability, smart textiles, biotech and digitization. The seminars had similar topics, one focusing even on AI and fashion that were informative as well as eye opening to all visitors.

Bluezone showed a broad range of exhibitors consisting of 100 international leading denim and sportswear fabric companies which showed new fabrics. Candiani Denim presented its biological degradable denim ‘Regen’, Calik Denim showed ‘Smart Tech’ and ‘Fly Jeans’ and Kassim its premium sustainability line ‘Made in Germany’ which is done in cooperation with German universities. Especially for the northern European part, this is a meeting point for all denim experts.

The next Munich Fabric Start will happen 4-6th of September 2018.

Karl Lagerfeld has announced it has entered into a multi-year license agreement with Giada S.p.A. for the production and distribution of its new KARL LAGERFELD DENIM collection, in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The first collection, which will include men’s and women’s denim, will launch in Spring 2019. The initial term of the licensing agreement runs for 10 seasons.

“The launch of KARL LAGEREFLD DENIM is an exciting, high-potential addition to our brand’s diverse product portfolio,” said Pier Paolo Righi, CEO of KARL LAGERFELD. “Giada is a leading producer and marketer of premium denim production, and we are fascinated by their love for product details. We look forward to working with them to build this business.”

“Our license agreement with KARL LAGERFELD is exciting for Giada and we are proud to embark on this special partnership,” said Franco Catania, CEO of Giada S.p.A. “It represents an amazing opportunity for both companies.”

The KARL LAGERFELD DENIM collection will offer a wide range of premium styles, for an iconic denim look. The collection will be fully made in Italy and positioned in the premium segment. Designs will include luxurious finishes like selvedge seams, lurex texture effects, unique coatings and embellishments, with silhouettes ranging from skinny to girlfriend, boyfriend and biker fits.

ISPO Munich closed its doors a few days ago, and showcased in a snowy setting interest in winter sports products and filled the corridors during the four-day event. In addition to the latest winter sports equipment, the 2,801 companies at the fair showcased innovations and trends in the areas of outdoor and health & fitness. The focal point was the increasing digitalization of the sporting goods industry, a topic that was explored in the new format ISPO Digitize.

Klaus Dittrich, Chairman and CEO of Messe München, said: “With ISPO Digitize, we have pointed the way to the future for the sporting goods industry and sports retailing. The next step will be to apply this positive momentum and to get more people excited about sports.” The Digitize Area in Hall A4 provided a glimpse of the digital future. Representatives of sports retailing and the sporting goods industry had an opportunity to learn about digital solutions in product development, manufacture, marketing and sales. With the help of the Digital Readiness Check, they could see just how fit their own business is.

The Munich trade fair center will open two new halls this year: C5 and C6. As a result, ISPO Munich will have a total of 18 halls starting in 2019. The sporting goods industry will profit from this expansion. Growth is expected to be generated primarily by the areas of outdoor, health & fitness and innovative textiles.

The International Talent Support competition is returning this year for its 16th edition taking place on the 27th of June in Trieste, Italy. The Trieste-based design competition, which was founded in 2002 by Barbara Franchin gives emerging designers in fashion, accessories and jewellery a platform to showcase their talent.

This edition’s theme is ‘Courage’ and ‘So Bold, Almost Incredible’. The competition’s main fashion partner is OTB, the parent company of fashion brands Diesel, Maison Margiela, Marni, and Viktor&Rolf, as well as Swatch and Illycaffè. The winner will be awarded with the OTB Award, alongside a 10,000 euro cash grant and the possibility of an internship in the style office of one of the group’s companies, while Swatch will award the Swatch Award with a cash prize of 10,000 euros as well as a six-month paid internship at its Swatch Lab in Zurich.

The other main prize is the ITS Award, which is given to the best fashion, accessories or jewellery finalists, and awards the winner a cash prize of 15,000 euros to help launch their collection. The winner also normally gets a feature in Vogue Italia’s supplement Vogue Talents.

Tommy Hilfiger will present at the #TommyNow Fashion Show on February 25th in Milan the fourth and last collection with supermodel Gigi Hadid.

The collection represents Tommy’s passion for motorsport and Gigi’s fast paced lifestyle. Athletic color blocking in red, white and blue is underlined with stripe prints, graphic patches and embroidered Speed ​​logos. The silhouette is a mix & match of oversized designs in combination with super skinny styles – for a confident and confident fashion appearance. READY, SET, GO!

Current store concepts are characterized by a mix of different colours and styles from industrial look to country house and a broad range of various materials. Stores create hybrid spaces, mixing traditional retail, tasteful catering, personal services, art galleries, literary readings and lots more. For this year’s EuroShop RetailDesign Awards, 85 nominations were received from 27 countries. From these examples, EHI shopfitting expert Claudia Horbert distils the most important trends in international retail design.

Cozy and Curated
Wood remains the most favourite element for store construction and determines the ambiance of a store. Dark wood creates a cozy, warmer and more genuine atmosphere than the clear design language of the Scandinavian style or sharp black-white contrasts.

Customer Engagement
In a world of a growing competition from suppliers online, modern stores have to create unique environments that seduce, attract and entertain customers at the point of sale. Whether it is an iconic architecture, an enhancing store design, lighting or the embedding of state-of-the-art media in the shop fitting, everything has to follow a joint dramaturgy to give customers that certain kick. Thus the dovetailing of physical and online stores is generating new retail and interior design concepts.

To emerge from the competition as a winner, this year’s participants again had to appeal to customers with a successful combination of shop architecture, colours, materials, lighting and visual merchandising and convey an unambiguous message in relation to their product offering. 35 submitters are nominated. On the evening of April 26th, to kick off the C-star trade fair in Shanghai, EHI and Messe Dusseldorf will grant the EuroShop RetailDesign Awards to three stores with the best concepts.

Designed by Gonzalez Haase AAS, Birkenstock’s mobile, spatial retail concept continues its travel throughout the US, moving to the Weat Coast in partnership with Rick Owens with a private launch event on the 17th of April, 2018, followed by the public opening on April 18h till 21st 2018.

The Birkenstock box consists of converted freight containers, which play host to each partner’s interior concept and merchandise proposition. In this site-specific iteration, the Box’s interior is designed by Rick Owens and incorporates the retail design elements from the Rick Owens New York store.

The Birkenstock box will carry a limited collection of Birkenstock styles, along with curated assortment of Rick Owens looks, objects, furniture, legwear and accessories.

Clarion Events, an international leader in event planning and trade show events, has been pioneering and organizing innovative events since 1947. It has now been announced that it will acquire the PREMIUM Group, the Berlin-based event and trade show organizer of leading fashion events such as PREMIUM, Seek , Show & Order, Bright, PREMIUM Order Munich and FashionTech Conference, the largest fashion events held twice a year in Germany.

Clarion Events is delighted that Anita Tillmann, Managing Partner of the PREMIUM GROUP and Managing Director Jörg Arntz, who has been Managing Director for four years, and her dedicated team willl continue to strategically develop and manage events from Berlin. PREMIUM’s vohergehnder partner, Waterland Equity, as well as co-founder dr. Florian Bachelin, have left the company. With the new partnership, Clarion Events wants to establish itself as a fixture in the global fashion sector.

Trends for Autumn/Winter 2018-19 are inspired by “modernity”, “nature”, “science fiction” and “globalization”. Collections present simple, classic and occasionally vintage designs, with modern, contemporary details. A timeless style. The influence of nature can be found in prints and decorations which abound with original details. The impact of street-art is also strong and gives footwear a rebellious touch. Craft traditions from all over the world blend together to create a new highly globalised culture. The materials used are in natural fibres or technical fabrics. Colours are mainly warm and typically autumnal, often in contrast with colder tones, both luminous and opaque. The trend forecasts will be presented at the 85th edition of MICAM Milano, at the Rho Fair Centre from 11 to 14 February 2018.

The Thinker
For women, this trend explores an emerging era: the age of enlightenment 4.0 in which ideas and learning are the most valuable currency. For men and kids autumnal shades prevail, producing a traditional look paired with modern details and accessories.

Humanature
For women and kids, natural materials and tactile surfaces, quilted or richly textured, are the common thread running through this trend. The autumn colour palette is folk-inspired and sees classic earthy tones being replaced by spicy hues and bolder fashion colours. For men and kids in addition to vintage, inspiration comes from the craft traditions of a world without borders. Men’s shoes are technical but sustainable, thanks to the use of organic leather and fabrics.

Dark Wonder
This is a trend inspired by the new technologies. Contrast is at the heart of this palette, with colours ranging from dark to light tones. For men the colour theme sees sportswear become more and more extreme, with oversized items of clothing.

Worldhood
With street culture becoming increasingly globalised, influences from every part of the world are spread and remixed faster than ever before. For men and kids Shoes are retro, revisited and reinterpreted, sporty and informal.

Denham the Jeanmaker is celebrating its 10th anniversary with ‘A Decade of Denham’, a year-long series of events and collaborations with renowned brands, such as Converse and Barbour, English graphic artist Anthony Burrill, Scandinavian furniture label NORR11, and the Amsterdam-based label Atelier Reservé. The program has kicked off this month, in January with the launch of a book titled ‘A Decade of Denham’ and will see a new project unveiled every month, ending with the launch of the Indig’eau de Parfum fragrance at the end of the year.

DENHAM will also introduce three exclusive jean designs — two men’s styles and one woman’s style — at the Pitti Uomo fair in Florence, Italy, in January. Created using fabric from the renowned Candiani mill, the jeans will be sold in DENHAM stores and via select wholesale partners. They will be packaged in a commemorative anniversary box and include a contest for consumers to win a trip to Milan.

“Celebrating the 10th anniversary of DENHAM is an incredible milestone for our brand,” said Jason Denham, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of DENHAM the Jeanmaker. “Our ‘Decade of DENHAM’ program is a nod to my greatest passions and inspirations that have shaped DENHAM into what it is today. I am honoured and excited to partner with some of the brands and people who have most influenced me in my career.”

On the 16th of January 2018 the 7th edition of #Fashiontech took place at a new venue: Kraftwerk Berlin. The conference, which ranks among the leading events of its kind worldwide, saw the top visionaries come together to delve into the topic of “Fashioning the Future” and presented at which stages of the value chain technology can be integrated within to make the industry fit for the digital future. Particular emphasis was laid on the areas of Marketing & Communication, E-Commerce and Retail. Today these areas will be complemented in conjunction with partner, Messe Frankfurt, by looking into Sustainability and Technical Textiles at FashionSustain Conference.

Anita Tillmann, founder and Managing Partner of Premium Exhibitions GmbH and organiser of #FASHIONTECH: “The challenge for every company is to take the first step towards digitalisation, to accept change and to exploit this as an opportunity. From the very beginning, we made it very clear that Fashiontech doesn’t only mean making wearable technology. We understand fashion technology as the embedding of technology at all stages of value chain within both the industry.”

The question is: at what point can technology help a company to develop, not only in securing the own position in the market, but also in helping to stand out from the competition. Even if digitalisation might be easier for  global players and vertical retailers, in part because they have more resources available to them by comparison. But what chances to small and medium-sized companies and emerging designers or independent retailers have to keep up the pace. Exactly at that level – between David and Goliath – #FASHIONTECH leads the discussion around the needs and chances of the digital transformation, and not only on a theoretical basis, but with as practical an approach as possible.

Following the #FASHIONTECH conference on 16 January 2018, the topic of Sustainability and Technical Textiles was the main focus the following day at FashionSustain by Messe Frankfurt. Anita Tillmann: “Two leaders with strong areas of expertise are collaborating and sharing knowledge in order to achieve the best-possible output for the industry. In Messe Frankfurt the PREMIUM Group has found the perfect partner to consolidate the content offering of Berlin Fashion Week and strengthen Berlin as a marketplace for fashion and innovation.”

“Welcome to this year’s edition of our online WeAr Buyer’s Guide during Berlin Fashion Week.

As always we want to present you the best events, restaurants, clubs, bars and hotels, alongside some trendarticles to make your buying decisions easier.

During the shows our team will give you live updates of what is happening at the show, show you the who is who, the most creative booth designs and insight into the shows.Please do not hesitate to visit us at our booth at Premium Berlin, at the entrance, and we are happy to answer you any question you might have. Do also enquire about our exclusive WeAr Buyers Club.

As always, we are open to any suggestions you might have – just email our editorial director Shamin: sv@wear-magazine.com”

Happy Berlin Fashion Week,

Klaus Vogel

Editor & Publisher

It has been a very giving year for Assocalzaturifici: the initiatives undertaken in favour of those in need have achieved great results. Starting with Assocalzaturifici partnership with HUMANA People to People Italia Onlus. In a project that went by the name “Even feet can lend a hand”, Assocalzaturifici members donated their unsold products and remainders to the non-profit association. HUMANA then sent the shoes considered appropriate to Africa and reached an agreement with manufacturers to sell the rest of the shoes in its charity shops. The revenues funded a schooling project in primary schools in Chilangoma, Malawi.

According to HUMANA statistics, the partnership with Assocalzaturifici permitted collection of 300 kg of materials: a highly positive result for the environment too, because it means 90 kg of pesticides that need not be used, 180 kg of fertiliser that will not be spread on the land, 1080 kg of carbon dioxide that will not be emitted and fully 1,800,000 litres of water saved.
2,500 pairs of shoes have been collected so far: a result made possible by everybody’s help. CIMAC, our laboratory for testing and certification of fashion and safety footwear, also contributed much of the material in its warehouse, in the conviction that cutting waste by transforming unused materials into a resource for the people that need them most is the best way to provide for the future.

And this is not all the charity work that Assocalzaturifici has done this year. The revenues from sale of the works of world-famous photographer Giovanni Gastel – who curated the “Similitudini” exhibition during MICAM Milano – were all donated to HUMANA.

Lastly, at Christmas time, Assocalzaturifici made a donation to the Cooperative “I ragazzi di Sipario Onlus” in support of its work helping young people with mental and sensory impairments find work in the restaurant industry.
The cooperative has been around for 10 years and now has a tightly knit team of cooks and waiters who work with great commitment and professionalism every day at “I Ragazzi di Sipario” Bistro, serving lunches and pre-dinner drinks and providing a Catering & Banqueting service.

The four days of Pitti Immagine Uomo no.93 are coming to an end at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, with the first final figures that record a significant increase (+ 2.5%) compared to the last January edition, for a total of almost 25,000 buyers arrived at Pitti Uomo (over 600 more than a year ago), and a total number of visitors that exceed the 36,000 attendance.

In terms of figures, foreign buyers recorded a growth of + 4% (almost 9,200 international buyers in total), with excellent performances from Korea (+14%), Russia (+31%),  the Netherlands (+15%), France (+3%), Japan (+3%), United States (+20% in the store number), Austria (+8%) and Portugal; very good the performances recorded by new markets such as Mexico, Australia, Brazil and India; among the northern European countries, a surprising result for Norway and Finland (Finland was Pitti Guest Nation of this edition), but perhaps the most surprising it is the exploit of the whole area of Eastern Europe (Poland thas doubled its buyers, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia), followed by the Balkans (Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia), ending up in Estonia, in the Baltic area. The numbers of the Italian market are also encouraging (+1.5%), which should result in around 15.750 registered buyers.

The ranking of attendance sees Japan back at the top of the list followed by Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, UK, France, Turkey, South Korea, Switzerland, USA, China, Belgium, Russia, Austria and Portugal.

QUEST, a special section within Liberty Fairs, speaks to the modern gentleman who blurs the lines between luxury sportswear and sartorial dressing. An overwhelming success at Liberty Las Vegas, Quest will dip its toes into the New York market with an intimate group of hand-selected brands.

Liberty Fairs Season X will foster an inspiring environment in which to network and learn about the latest innovations in wholesale, direct-to-consumer and the digital influencer market. This season will bring brand buyers, VIPs, and the consumer together to be the necessary catalysts for change in this competitive and exciting environment.

The Bomboogie Riders Clan project perfectly interprets the spirit of the Italian brand famous for its winter outerwear. On December 30th Alessandro and Emilio, two guys united by visceral love for two wheels, started from Baldissero (Turin), headquarter of the Bomboogie company, which has always linked its name to the world of motors and motorcycling, heading for the North Cape. The two explorers accompanied by warm, performing and dynamic Bomboogie garments and on board their Enduro motorcycles are challenging the winter, the icy north and the adverse climatic conditions to reach the extreme tip of Norway. The breathtaking landscapes that open up on the Scandinavian peninsula are an invitation to challenge the harsh climate. On Tuesday, January 9th, Alexander and Emilio have reached their goal, the Promised Land. Currently on their way back, their arrival in Italy is scheduled for 14th or 15th January.

The friends of Bomboogie, the people who love motorcycles and travels and the followers of Alessandro and Emilio will be able to follow their adventure, which has become viral on the web, through their personal profiles and of course the social profiles (Instagram, Facebook and website) of Bomboogie brand that from the beginning has supported and encouraged them in this exciting venture.

Matthew Miller and Bodice – from the British Isles and India – were yesterday announced the winners of the menswear and womenswear 2017/2018 International Woolmark Prize, presented at a special event during Pitti Uomo at Stazione Leopolda in Florence. In addition, the USA’s DYNE was announced the winner of the inaugural Innovation Award.

Inspired by designer and philosopher Dieter Rams, British designer Matthew Miller took the idea ‘form follows function’ to add multifunctional elements for different environments, such as the addition of the garment belt system which acts as a way to turn the garment into an accessory in warmer climates. Miller treated wool in a variety of ways, including innovative treatments to create water resistant fabrics and has erased the need for plastic fastenings by using recycled material, such as waste marble. Using Australian Merino wool ranging from 17.5 to 20.5 microns, the Matthew Miller multi-layered collection reflects the label’s design philosophy, developing the inherent character of each piece.

Bodice was selected as the womenswear winner, praised for technique and manufacturing process. Inspired by her grandmother who used to upcycle saris into quilts, Bodice addressed the issue of consumer waste in fashion with traditional techniques of recycling and cultural beliefs in the spiritual power of cloth to affect our wellbeing. Collaborating with hand weavers and encouraging them to take an unorthodox approach to traditional techniques, Ruchika Sachdeva produced an elegant collection honoring Australian Merino wool and the artisans of her country. Bodice also worked with Bio-Dye in Sawantwadi, central India, which makes all colors from natural sources. The color palette of navy and forest green mixed with pink and green pastels contains natural dyes and are safe for the skin – a nod to the ancient practices of Ayurveda. Completing the label’s holistic approach, Bodice sourced buttons from renewable sources of coconut shell, seashell and wood.

Celebrating innovation in design, Miroslava Duma presented the inaugural Innovation Award – powered by Future Tech Lab – to DYNE. Inspired by learning to snowboard in the 1980s – in a wool bomber jacket – the collection of DYNE’s Christopher Bevans comprised a technical snowboarding wardrobe, complete with an NFC chip in the water-resistant wool jacket to track users in avalanches and ultimately bridge the gap between the brand and the consumer.

Both Matthew Miller and Bodice will each receive AU$200,000 (about $156,000) to help support the development of their business. They will also receive ongoing industry mentor support, Woolmark certification for their winning collection and the opportunity to be stocked in some of the world’s most prestigious department stores and boutiques including Boutique 1, Boon The Shop, David Jones, Harvey Nichols, Hudson’s Bay, Lane Crawford, LECLAIREUR, mytheresa.com, ORDRE, Parlour X, Ssense.com, Sugar and Tata CLiQ Luxury. DYNE will receive AU$100,000 (about $78,000) along with commercial opportunities.

The collections will also be presented for the first time at the British Fashion Council’s LONDON show ROOMS at TRANOÏ WEEK in Paris, January 18-23, at VNH Gallery, 108 Rue Vieille Du Temple, 75003, Paris.

UBM Fashion will open 2018 in New York City as the leading marketplace that offers a one-stop shopping experience, beginning with their NY women’s and children’s exhibition. Bringing forth a preview of ready-to-wear apparel, premium accessories and popularly-priced footwear across six shows – Accessories The Show, MODA, Intermezzo Collections, Accessorie Circuit, FAME and Children’s Club provides retailers with a 360 degree look into current and FW’18 trends.

Among the highlights of the three-day event, VINTAGE@Intermezzo will return for the second installment that will grant the public an opportunity to shop unique and rare vintage apparel from much desired luxury brands. The curated section of vendors will feature twenty-one unique dealers.

Katharine Zarrella, Vintage expert and founder of Fashion Unfiltered, the online destination for fashion news, commentary and criticism, will moderate a panel discussion entitled “Modern Vintage Lovers and Extraordinary Wardrobes” with authorities on the subject including Decades Founder & Fashion Director for H by Halston and H Halston Cameron Silver, Stylist & Author, “Tales of Endearment: Modern Vintage Lovers and Their Extraordinary Wardrobes“, fashion collector and stylist David Casavant and co-founder of Morphew, Bridgette Morphew. The talk will be held on Monday, January 8^th at 10:00am.

Looking into the children’s market, petitePARADE returns with PETITIETALKS. The event will showcase the top children’s brands in a live presentation, while influencers discuss the evolving childrenswear market on Sunday, January 7^th.

Taking place from 14th till 17th of March 2018 at the National Exbibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai, China, here’s a look into the trends to be presented at the Intertextile S/S 2019.

@Sense:
An encounter with an unknown inner sense of beauty, while exploring maximised yet imperceptible appeal buried deep within the self. Natural tenderness comes face-to-face with dignified strength, paving the way for us to nurture a sensitively cool and ultimately soothing attitude. Emphasising serene elegance in profundity and blooming anew with a placid allure.

#Couture:
Creation of a novel and chic couture; exhilarating freshness adorned with a sleek, sporty rhythm – revisiting the origin of elegance. Innocent charm joins with an energetic and playful mode for new revitalisation.

e.native:
Escaping from daily life awhile, let us embark on a journey – exploring our own roots and awakening internal instincts. Celebrating global connectivity, borderless inspiration and multi-art cultures, awash with vibrant, inter-stimulating emotions. Perceive enticing and sensual excitement…imbued with native-inspired human strength and vital pulsation.

Jacket Required co-founder Mark Batista and menswear designer Kestin Hare have teamed up to launch a new men’s trade event in Paris called Welcome Edition. The latter taking place from January 17th till 21st will be presented in a showroom-style event, running alongside Paris Men’s Fashion Week. The first edition will showcase around 30 menswear exhibitors who will present their Autumn 2018 collections. The event is not a tradeshow as it will be presenting the brands in private showrooms.

DONNA IDA has introduced ISKO stretch fabric into 15 denim styles for its S/S 2018 collection. The fabrics are enhanced by a patented technology increasing their recovery level and making it possible for jeans to hold their shape no matter how much one wears them. This innovative textile formula will be included in core DONNA IDA styles and new shapes from December 2017.

ISKO REFORM DENIM:
This uses ISKO RECALL patented technology paired with a unique construction which ensures incredible hold to the body, creating a slimmer silhouette and a more streamlined look. ISKO REFORM HP has incredible elasticity which makes this fabric extremely comfortable to wear.

ISKO BLUE SKIN DENIM:
A patented concept has a pure indigo shade inspired by the rich, supersaturated Japanese indigos; deep but bright cast with a beautiful chip off/contrast effect, its refined brightness makes this pure indigo exceptional. ISKO BLUE SKIN fabric ensures freedom of movement with holding power in all directions. Gravity defying lift and hold, in other words new generation of elasticity.

ISKO RECALL DENIM TECHNOLOGY:
ISKO patented denim technology, ISKO RECALL, ensures jeans never bag out thanks to a superior recovery level.

ISKO POP DENIM:
Features patented technology which offers permanent softness and bright hues giving a sophisticated sheen to your jeans.

ISKO PJ SOFT DENIM:
A smooth, supple stretch fabric that offers the 24-hour comfort of pyjamas which is extra-soft and light. Supported by Modal fibres, ISKO PJ SOFT moulds and forms with every movement of the body, giving an excellent silhouette and fit for a comfortable look that never constricts.

On the occasion of Pitti Uomo no. 94 taking place in Florence from the 12th till the 15th of June, 2018, the new exhibition “EVOLUTION – INVOLUTION – REVOLUTION: Three Decades of Men’s Fashion as Seen by Stefano Pilati” will be inaugurated at Palazzo Pitti. The exhibit is produced by the Fondazione Pitti Immagine Discovery in cooperation with Palazzo Pitti’s Museo della Moda e del Costume.

The creator and curator of the project (exhibition and catalog) is Stefano Pilati, one of the great designers of international fashion. “EVOLUTION – INVOLUTION – REVOLUTION” is thus a personal reflection on contemporary fashion via a unique artistic approach. It is neither an anthological pathway nor an academic interpretation. It is based on first-hand experience, passing through flashbacks, impressions, collaborations and rejections. Its aim is to immerse the visitor in the multifaceted reality of men’s fashion of the last three decades, depicting its dialectical relationship with a constantly evolving social context.

“For this project on men’s fashion, a theme that has long been overlooked in Italian and international cultural circles, we thought of Stefano Pilati because he was and is one of the leading protagonists in this sphere,” says Lapo Cianchi, Secretary General of Fondazione Pitti Immagine Discovery. “But perhaps most importantly, he interested us and we found his concept of the fashion system to be fascinating – it is eccentric, conflicting and almost cynical. It’s a precise point of view where the obsessions and reflections of a collector merge with those of a designer and an individual who believes in dressing well.

Nicola Formichetti will be departing his position as Artistic Director of Diesel at the end of this year.

“The contract expires at the end of December, so there is not that much to say. We’ve had five fantastic years. It was a fantastic collaboration. I really love very much what was done, and the relationship between us is really special,” Rosso said.

Shanghai Tang’s S/S 2018 collection represents a new conceptual interpretation of the brand’s heritage and image. A tale of traditional Chinese elements merged by a contemporary spirit and a cosmopolitan, international creative vision. With an undertone of novelty, these elements are auspiciously united by the “Shou”, Chinese symbol for longevity, which features on buckles of belts and bags and appears in both jewelry and prints.

Ownership and direction of the iconic brand, founded by the late Sir David Tang in 1994, was acquired by Alessandro Bastagli, Shanghai Tang’s new Executive Chairman, and Hong Kong Private Equity fund Cassia Investments. A marriage of Chinese tradition and the finest Italian craftsmanship, Shanghai Tang is now manufactured in Italy to ensure the highest quality of products and excellence of techniques and materials.

Silk is the symbolic element of the Chinese millennial culture and plays an emblematic role in the collection. Deployed in innumerable variations, the material becomes an ideal bridge between Italy and China whose two souls are now harmonized in the brand.

The cultural and semantic Chinese imprinting is revisited in the new qipao that transforms to the modern “little black dress”. The metamorphosis involves motifs of bold butterflies inspired by antique embroideries and is embodied by imperial peonies.

The print designed with “intense” colors looks westward with the ton-sur-ton macro hound’s-tooth mixed with delicate floral patterns or geometrical multicolor mosaics.

In January 2018, from the 7th till the 9th, VINTAGE@Intermezzo will open its doors once again allowing the public to shop the most sought-after assortment of vintage dealers the nation has to offer. Cult-status dealers Morphew, IMJM Vintage, Couture, Les Femme Vintage will return in 2018, joined by a fresh assortment of new exhibitors including Brooklyn Archives Vintage, Metropolis Vintage, Bella Bag and more. For the second time only, guests  can shop a range of luxury vintage designer including Missoni, Chanel and Versace, gowns and furs, to rare Victorian and Asian pieces such as Issey Miyake, alongside an array of sportswear, t-shirts and unique denim.

EDWIN Jeans, has announced the re-launch of EDWIN for the North American markets. Having launched over 70 years ago, the EDWIN brand has been known for its authenticity, innovation and craftsmanship throughout the world of fashion. From utilizing exclusive fabrics, revolutionary production technologies with state-of-the-art finishing and continual progression in design and fit, EDWIN has cemented itself as a leader in global denim market. The brand currently has over 3,000 points of sale at retail throughout Japan and Europe, and 31 company-owned stores in Japan.

Based in the Arts District, downtown Los Angeles, the new EDWIN collection is being designed by Adriano Goldschmied. The first collection will be a limited capsule collection for men and women, available for Holiday ’17 retail, with a small and focused collection of stand alone items for Spring / Summer 2018.  Goldschmied has tapped into EDWIN’s long history for inspiration while bringing a modern aesthetic to the new collection. Staying true to the roots of the brand, the collection will be manufactured in Japan.

Capsule has announced that after many seasons of being away from the centre of the city’s fashion-related action, it will bring its men’s show back to the Marais district of Paris. This edition of Capsule Paris Men’s, which will take place from January 19th till 21st, marks a return to Capsule’s roots as the premiere destination for a tightly curated assemblage of progressive brands from around the world. With just 50 exhibitors, the carefully curated show will be intimate in size like the Capsule of yesteryear. The exhibition will be spread over 4 floors in a light-filled pace, but simultaneously will feature enough heft for premiere retailers who attend Capsule.